PONY'S Blog

Ballona Freshwater Marsh report for September 18, 2008

2008-09-19T16:56:00Z

Back out to the marsh. I was hoping that waiting until fall things might pick-up out at the marsh.

Hard to believe but the marsh was less birdy then the Del Rey Lagoon the day before.

Hummm, where are those fall migrants?? They haven't made it to Los Angeles yet. I still haven't had any White-crown Sparrows show up at my feeders. They are usually here by now.

The highlight of my day was spotting two Least Bitterns. It's been nearly a year to the day since I saw my first (and only) Least Bittern. This time I was able to get three not-so-great shots of the bittern. He only stuck his head out from the reeds, but hey, ya take what ya can get. A bad photo is better then no photo.

The list...

American Coots, Pied-billed Grebe with chicks, Mourning Doves, Black Phoebes, Snowy Egret, Bushtits, Least Bittern, Gadwall, Mallards, Red-winged Blackbirds, Northern Shoveler, Common Yellow Throat, Killdeer.

Attached photo of the Least Bittern

Del Rey Lagoon and Jetties report for September 17, 2008

2008-09-19T16:45:00Z

I haven't been to my local patches for a while. They're just not that 'birdy' during the summer. I was hoping if I waited until mid-September things might have picked up.

The Lagoon and the Ballona Channel were pretty unbirdie. Oh well... Not much in the water and not a lot on the rocks. Just all the usual suspects

I did stumble on a juvenile White-winged Dove near the Ballona Wetlands. This bird made the RBA list for Los Angeles so it was a good find, Not a life bird but still an exciting find. This little juvie was pretty tame and allowed me to get some pretty good photos of it.

The list...

Western Gull, Heerman's Gull, Mallards, American Crow, Grey Lag Geese, Whimbrel, Pelagic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Willet, Black Oystercatchers, Marbled Godwit, Black Turnstone, Ruddy Turnstone, Savannah Sparrows, Belted Kingfisher, Brown Pelican (including 2 dead ones in the water near the rocks :( ) Least Sandpipers (lots of them), Western Sandpipers, American Coot (in the channel - this was odd I've never seen a coot in the salt water/channel before), Northern Mockingbird, Allen's Hummingbird, Morning Dove, White-winged Dove, House Finch, Terns (probably Least but I couldn't get a good look at them).

Attached photo of the juvenile White-winged Dove

Huntington Central Park & Bolsa Chica Wetlands report for August 31, 2008

2008-09-01T16:13:00Z

Another L.A. Audubon Society field trip.

I've been wanting to go to the Bolsa Chica Wetlands for a little over a year now. The ever rising price of gas has kept me home. Obviously gas prices are not getting any lower so I finally decided to head out there. I figured going with LAAS would be my best chance to optimize my birding experience.

The morning started at the Huntington Central Park in Huntington Beach. I've never been there before and this park is suppost to be a good migrant trap. Unfortunately this day was not very birdy. We didn't see much. Mostly a lot of Black Phoebes. Our trip leader did hear a Blue Grosbeak, but unfortunately the bird was never sighted. Drat! this would have been a lifer for me. :( This was also the day there was a Civil War reenactment going on in the park, so there was lots of activity happening. We didn't stay long since it was obvious we weren't going to see much.

On to Bolsa Chica wetlands. Great biriding place. Unfortunately they have a very small parking lot. The wetlands parking lot is directly across the street from the pay parking lot for Bolsa Chica State Beach. Parking can be a little tricky here. We did somehow manage to get everyone parked.

First thing upon arriving I was able to get some good shots of a Black Skimmer feeding. Whoo hoo! A good Black Skimmer picture was on the top of my wish list for this trip.

Lots of peeps. Thousands probably. Lots of other birders as well. Some folks did see some Snowy Plovers, however I couldn't pick them out of the thousands of other peeps.

The other highlight of this trip was getting a Reddish Egret. A lifer for me and a great bird for Southern California. The bird was a good distance away and best seen with a scope. I did get a few shots, they really suck, but what can you do. Ya gotta take what ya can get.

The list...

Black Phoebe, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Anna's Hummingbird, Downey Woodpecker, Nutall's Woodpecker, Mallards, Black Skimmer, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Rock Pigeon, Elegant Tern, Forster's Tern, Willet, Savannah Sparrow "Belding's", Black-crowned Night Heron, Short-billed Dowitcher, Semipalmated Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Baird's Sanpiper, Brown Pelican, American White Pelican, Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, Western Sandpiper, Sanderlings, Reddish Egret, Great Blue Heron, Wilson's Phalarope, American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, Pied-billed Grebe, Black-necked Stilt, Barn Swallow, Turkey Vulture, Belted Kingfisher, American Avocet, Green Heron, Least Sandpiper, Double-crested Cormorant,

Attached (sucky) photo of the Reddish Egret. Black Skimmer will be in my gallery.

Salton Sea report for August 23 & 24, 2008

2008-08-26T00:13:00Z

Yee gads what was I thinking. Seriously, what kind of nut goes out to the Salton Sea in August??? Well, I guess birding nuts. It was hotter then the hinges of hell!

The Salton Sea was a fine place to be in January but August, ick. It was 111 degrees on Saturday. Not sure what the temp was on Sunday but it felt about the same.

Once again I went to the Salton Sea on an L.A. Audubon field trip. Only 3 other crazy people showed up for this trip. We met at 5:30 a.m. at Cattle Call Park in Brawley. - If you want to get anything done out there you get it done early. I was amazed at how many people were out jogging and/or walking before the sun came up. The weather was lovely early in the morning. It would appear that there is a 2 hour window just as the sun rises where the weather is nice.

My target bird was the Wood Stork. Unfortunately we dipped on the stork. Our leader got a phone call that some Wood Storks had been seen flying from Red Hill Marina towards some ponds. We checked all the ponds but came up empty.

The trip was not as productive as the January trip. I did get 4 life birds but, unfortunately I only got a really good look at one of them.

On Saturday while I was scouting out the meeting place I caught the briefest glimpse of a Lesser Nighthawk as it flew away. I was hoping as dusk approaced I might get a better look at some, but no such luck. Life bird # 1.

I did get some decent looks at some juvenile Baird's Sandpipers that were in an aggriculture field. Life bird # 2.

I only got a so-so look at a Wilson's Phalarope. Unfortunately at this stop we were over taken by thousands of unknown small grey flying insects. Oh my god the place was thick with them. We didn't even want to get out of our cars. I had brought some insect netting clothes with me, but they still were all in my face. The only good thing about these flying insects was that they didn't bite. It was awful so unfortunately I didn't get as good of a look at the Wilson's Phalarope as I would have liked. Life bird # 3.

I did get an o.k. look at a Black Tern as it flew past me. Again not a great look but still enough to know what I was looking at. Unfortunately the photos I took both came out blurry messes. Drat. Life bird # 4.

The highlight of the trip for me was getting a good look at a Barn Owl. The Barn Owl is not a life bird for me. My first and only Barn Owl was in Hawaii on Oahu. That bird was quite a distance away so I wasn't able to get a good look.

While at the Sunny Bono Wildlife Center I remembered that the lady who worked in the visitor center told me (in January) there was a Barn Owl that roosted in one of the Palm Trees near the visitor center. I noticed a bunch of owl pellets under one of the trees. I stepped up close to the tree and looked up under the dead fronds and bingo there was the owl. OMG I got a great look at the owl. Got some pretty good photos as well.

All in all it wasn't the best outing. Only 4 life birds. But I did get a good look at a Barn Owl and I was able to get photos of some of the birds I missed out on in January, most notably the Yellow-footed Gull.

Still I'm not sure I'd ever go back to the Salton Sea in August. Maybe in a few years after my memory has a chance to fade and forget how bloody effen hot it is out there.

Attached photo of the Barn Owl. I'll put the Yelloew-footed Gull in my gallery.

The list...

Black-necked Stilt, Great-tailed Grackle, Snowy Egret, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gull, Cactus Wren, Osprey, Brown-headed Cowbird, Eurasian Collered Dove, Black Phoebe, Eared Grebe, Green Heron, Verdin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Turkey Vulture, White-winged Dove, Lesser Nighthawk, White-faced Ibis, American Kestrel, Loons (too far away for positive ID), Gila Woodpecker, European Starlings, Northern Mockingbird, Western Tanager, Abert's Towhee, Gray Flycatcher, Roadrunner, Common Ground Dove, Ring-necked Pheasant, Red-winged Blackbirds, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Burrowing Owl, American Avocet, Double-crested Cormorant, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Great Egret, Cinnamon Teal, Baird's Sandpiper, Cattle Egret, White Pelican, Wilson's Phalarope, Spotted Sandpiper, Great-blue Heron, Black Tern, Peregrine Falcon, Laughing Gull, Yellow-footed Gull, Willet, Caspian Tern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Forster's Tern, Belted Kingfisher, Gambel's Quail, Barn Owl

Little Blue Heron/Ballona Freshwater Marsh report for July 13,2008

2008-07-17T16:46:00Z

There has been an immature Little Blue Heron hanging out at the Ballona Freshwater Marsh and the surrounding Playa Del Rey area since about the middle of May. When he first showed up he was all white, he has been slowly molting into hs adult plumage.

I kept thinking I should head out to the marsh to see him. Southern California isn't exactly Little Blue Heron territory. Although this is a rare bird for So Cal it wouldn't be a life bird for me so I wasn't all that motivated to get out there. Plus, the bird not only was seen at the marsh but also the Del Rey Lagoon and the Ballona Channel. So there was a good chance I'd be at the marsh while the heron was at one of it's other favorite places.

Sunday morning I gat an email alert that the Little Blue Heron and an Orange Bishop had been seen in the south pond at the Ballona FWM. Okay for an Orange Bishop I would get up and go. An Orange Bishop would be a life bird.

I didn't get out of the house until late Sunday afternoon. Not much at the marsh this time of year. Just all the usual suspects and a lot of juvenile birds. Man I saw lots of juvies... Mallards, American Coots, Pied-billed Grebe, Black-crown Night Herons, Common Moorhens, Black-necked Stilts, Europen Starlings, Red-winged Blackbirds. Babies galore.

I finally got down to the south pond and it looked like it was going to be a bust, when suddenly the Little Blue Heron walked out from behind some reeds. Yippee!! Success!! I was able to get quite a few pictures before he flew off to the other side of the pond. I got a decent shot of him as he was landing that shows of his 'calico' plumage.

I dipped on the Orange Bishop. Oh well. I did get an email alert the next day that he'd been sighted again in the reeds near the south pond. I think I'm going to have to give him another try.

The list....

Northern Mockingbird, House Finch, Least Tern, Snowy Egret, Green Heron, Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, American Coot, Mourning Dove, Black Phoebe, Barn Swallow, Mallards, Red-winged Blackbirds, European Starlings, Black-necked Stilt, Song Sparrow, Great Egret, Common Yellow Throat, Killdeer, Little Blue Heron, Common Moorhen, Sanderlings, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, American Crow, Great-tailed Grackle.

Attached photo of Little Blue Heron landing. More in my gallery.

Long Island, NY report for June 6, 2008

2008-07-04T19:36:00Z

I went to New York to attend the Belmont Stakes hoping to see Big Brown sweep the Triple Crown. No such luck. But I did have a very good day of birding on Friday.

I hit four different places on Long Island. Connetquot River State Park, Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Heckscher State Park, and Jones Beach. All but Jones Beach produced a life bird. Life birds bolded.

Connetquot River State Park: Mourning Dove, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Canada Geese, American Robin, European Starlings, Common Grackle, Barn Swallow, Grey Catbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Blue Jay, Carolina Wren, Eastern Towhee, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Brown Thrasher, Osprey, Northern Mockingbird, Cedar Waxwing, Field Sparrow, House Sparrow, Rock Dove, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Mallards, Eastern Pewee (heard), Pine Siskin (heard), Red-bellied Woodpecker, Common Yellow-throat, Red-eyed Vireo, Veery (heard), Eastern Phoebe, Tufted Titmouse, Black-crowned Night Heron, Mute Swan, Yellow Warbler (heard), Eastern Kingbird, House Finch. ~ Unfortunately I only heard the Pine Siskins, and the Veery as they both would have been life birds. Also on a unfortunate note I only got a glimpse of the Red-bellied Woodpecker so no photo :(

Bayard Cutting Arboretum: Northern Flicker "Yellow Shafted", Fish Crow, Ring-billed Gull, Great Egret.

Hecksher State Park: Great Black-backed Gull, Osprey, Herring Gull, Red-tailed Hawk.

Jones Beach: Glossy Ibis, Sanderlings.

All in all a good day, seven new life birds added.

Attached photo of the Great Black-backed Gulls.

I'll put the Yellow Shafted Flicker in my gallery.

Del Rey Lagoon and Ballona Freshwater Marsh for May 11, 2008

2008-07-04T19:17:00Z

So I was cleaning my room and ran across a field list from May 11th. Oops.

I do remember finding a full breeding plumage female Red-necked Phalarope!! Not a life bird, but VERY exciting to find one in breeding plumage. I was also very excited to finally see some of the Yellow-headed Blackbirds that had been reported at the marsh. Unfortunately I only saw some females. I was really hoping to get to see a male as I've never seen the male YHB before.

I don't remember much else of the day, so I'm just going to post the list.

Dey Rey Lagoon: House Sparrow, Snowy Egret, Mallards, Rock Dove, European Starling, American Crow, Ring-billed Gull, Caspian Tern, Brown Pelican, Elegant Terns, Surf Scoter, Pelagic Cormorant, Western Gull

Ballona Freshwater Marsh: Northern Mockingbird, Barn Swallow, Mouning Dove, Red-winged Blackbirds, American Coot, White-faced Ibis, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Great-tailed Grackle, Yellow Warbler, Pied-billed Grebe, Warbling Vireo, Orange-crowned Warbler, Killdeer, American Crow, Wilson's Warbler, Canada Geese with goslings, Commom Moorhen and chicks, Snowy Egret, Mallards, Black Phoebe, Song Sparrow, Ruddy Duck, Black-neck Stilt, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Red-necked Phalarope, Bufflehead, European Starlings, Common Yellow Throat (heard), House Finch, Bustits, Tree Swallow.

Attached photo of Red-necked Phalarope

Cylburn Arboretum and Baltimore area report for May 16, 2008

2008-05-22T16:25:00Z

Well this little bird outing didn't go exactly as I envisioned it. It rained nearly non-stop the entire day. From the time I opened my eyes at 5:00 a.m. until nearly 2:30 p.m. there was some form of water falling from the sky. What a let down. However since I only had one day to bird I wasn't going to let that stop me.

The Cylburn Arboretum is a lovely place and I'm sure I would have had a heck of a birding day had it not been raining, and if there had been just a little sun.

Despite the rain I spent several hours trying to bird. I got fairly well soaked. I had plans to meet an old friend at the Inner Harbor so I took a break from the birding around 11:00 a.m. I was going to head to Pimlico after the Inner Harbor, but the sun finally made an appearance and the rain stopped falling, so instead I went back to Cylburn. Good thing because it was on my return trip that I spotted the Red-eyed Vireo.

All in all I had a decent time. I did add six new life birds so I guess it was worth getting wet.

The list, life birds in bold...

The list includes all birds seen on May 16, not just those from the Cylburn Arboretum.

Northern Mockingbird, Gray Catbird, Chipping Sparrow, Northern Cardinals, American Robins, Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Towhees, House Sparrow, Mourning Dove, Carolina Chickadee, Brown-headed Cowbirds, American Crow, Baltimore Oriole, Yellow-rumped Warbler "Myrtle", Common Yellow Throat, House Wren, White-throated Sparrow, Yellow Warbler, Barn Swallow, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, European Starlings, Yellow-throated Warbler, Rock Dove, Mallards, Ring-billed Gulls, House Fincc, Double-crested Cormorant, Chimney Swifts, Red-eyed Vireo, Ruby-throated Hummingbird (female), White-breasted Nuthatch, Turkey Vulture, Common Grackles, Blue Jay (heard)

I thought I heard a Pileated Woodpecker, but it could also have been a White-breated Nuthatch. I don't have much experience with either bird.

The "Myrtle" Yellow-rumped Warbler is new for me. I've only seen the "Audubon's" form before.

Due to the rain and poor lighting conditions most of the pictures I took just sucked. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a photo of the Yellow-throated Warbler. The little sucker only popped up long enough for me to get a look through my binoculars. Drat. It was such a lovely little bird.

Attached photo of a male Eastern Towhee. You can see the rain falling and the drops of water on him. LOL

Black-headed Grosbeaks in the yard.

2008-05-11T16:24:00Z

Very exciting. I haven't seen Black-headed Grosbeaks in my yard for a couple of years.

I had one show up Friday morning, a female. In fact, judging by the pictures I took, I believe there were at least two females enjoying the sunflower seeds I've put out.

Friday morning I also got a brief glimpse of a male Bullock's Oriole that flushed from the yard. I had gone out to feed my Western Scrub Jay his peanuts. When I first saw the shadow over my head I assumed it was Scrubby but then I saw the brilliant orange and realized it was an oriole. Darn. I would have loved a good look at him, plus a few pictures.

Saturday morning I was able to get some nice shots of the female Black-headed Grosbeak. (The ones I took Friday weren't so great).

While watching the birds out my window yesterday I briefly saw a male Black-headed Grosbeak. I sure wish he'd spend some time at my feeders. I'd really love a good picture of the male.

I had a few warblers in the yard yesterday morning as well. They moved through my garden so quickly that I couldn't get a clear look at them. But I believe they were a Yellow Warbler and an Orange-crowned Warbler.

I'm headed to Baltimore on Thursday. I'm going to the Preakness, It's a horse race. It's the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown.

I've added an extra day to my trip so I can have a day to bird watch. I'm planning to spend Friday morning birding at the Cylburn Arboretum. Fingers crossed to add some life birds. At the top of my wish list is a Pileated Woodpecker, closely followed by a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. But I'm not too choosey, I'll take anything I can get. Also hoping to get some good photos of a male Northern Cardnial and a Blue Jay. Both birds I've seen before but wasn't able to get photos.

Any owl sightings would be fantastic. The Great Horned Owl is listed as a resident at the Cylburn Arboretum so I'm very hopeful.

Attached photo of the female Black-headed Grosbeak

Ballona Marsh report for April 29, 2008

2008-05-11T16:16:00Z

Headed out to the marsh in hopes of seeing a large flock of Yellow-headed Blackbirds that had been reported there two days earlier. Also was hoping to see a Solitary Sandpiper that had been reported.

I didn't have as much time as I would have liked. This was a mid-week trip to the marsh and time was limited since I had to go to work later.

No luck on either bird. I looked and listened and no evidence of the Yellow-headed Blackbirds. Darn. Also struck out on the Solitary Sandpiper.

The list....

Northern Mockingbrid, Least Tern, Common Yellow Throat (heard), Red-winged Blackbirds, Ruddy Ducks (still lots of them), Great-tailed Grackles, Killdeer, American Coot, Pied-billed Grebe, Barn Swallows, Mallards, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Song Sparrow, Snowy Egret, Mourning Dove, Bushtits, European Starlings, Black Phoebe, Common Moorhen, Dowitcher, House Finch, American Crow, Cooper's Hawk, Great Blue Heron, Caspian Tern (heard)

Not 100% sure but I thought I heard a Least Bittern.

Ballona Freshwater Marsh report for April 20, 2008

2008-05-11T16:09:00Z

Eek once again I've fallen behind in my blogging.

Nothing new was sighted.

The list...

Great-tailed Grackle, Borwn-headed Cowbirds, Barn Swallows, American Coot & chicks, Canada Goose, Black-necked Stilt, Ruddy Ducks (lots of them), Snowy Egret, Pied-billed Grebe with six chicks, Red-winged Blackbirds, Northern Mockingbird, Black Phoebe, Mallards, Dowithcers, Killdeer, Gadwall, Cinnamon Teal, Common Yellow Throat (heard), Song Sparrow, House Finch, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, Great Egret, Green Heron, White-crowned Sparrow, House Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warblers, White-throated Swift, European Starlings, American Crow, Sora, Common Moorhen, Northern Shovelers

Grand Canyon National Park - April 2008

2008-04-15T17:15:00Z

I took the family on a small vacation to the Grand Canyon & Las Vegas over spring break. April 5-10, 2008.

We did the AAA Rails to the Rim tour. It was a nice way to see the Grand Canyon.

This wasn't really a birding vacation, but none the less I was hoping to add a few life birds. At the top of my wish list, of course, was a California Condor. They are very rare and one of the best places to find them is the Grand Canyon.

On the whole I was a bit disappointed with the bird watching. I did see a lot of birds, but not a great variety of them. I got up early one morning and spent about 2 hours wandering around the wooded area behind our lodge. Like I said, I saw lots of birds, but unfortunately they all seemed to be the same 2-3 species. - Western Bluebirds and Pygmy Nuthatches.

Our first day at the canyon I did see a California Condor. The bird was high in the sky soaring over the canyon. A spectacular sight to be sure. I snapped lots of pictures, but unfortunately most weren't very good.

On our last day I was fortunate enough to find a condor resting on a ledge very close to the rim. The bird stayed there for about 10-15 minutes and I was able to get some good shots of it. Yippee.

One bird I spotted that was a great find was a Red-backed Dark-eyed Junco. According to the range map in Sibley's this is a specialized local bird, found in limited areas of Arizonia, New Mexico and a small area of Texas. I was able to get s few so-so shots. Unfortunately they all came out a little blurry. :(

While at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams, AZ I thought I saw a Pink-sided Dark-eyed Junco in the residential area next to the hotel. Unfortuately I wasn't able to get close enough to confirm my sighting. Drats.

Overall I only added three new life birds. The California Condor, the Red-backed Dark-eyed Junco and a Pygmy Nuthatch. I was able to get photos of the Western Bluebirds (there were lots of them around), and one Violet-green Swallow. Both birds had been missing from my photo collection.

The list is all the birds spotted (or heard) over the course of our vacation...

House Sparrow, Great-tailed Grackle, Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Rock Dove, Song Sparrow, California Condor, Western Scrub Jay, Pygmy Nuthatch, Western Bluebirds, American Robin, Violet-green Swallow, Purple Finch (f), Eurasian Collared Dove, Mountian Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Flicker (heard), Red-shoulderd Hawk (heard), American Goldfinch, Hairy Woodpecker, Double-crested Cormorant, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Turkey Vulture

The last three birds listed were seen at the Hoover Dam.

Attached photo is of the California Condor.

The Red-backed Dark-eyed Junco will be in my gallery.

Finally!!

2008-04-03T15:50:00Z

Finally the birds are using the new feeders I put up.

They've been using the platform feeder for a little while.

They weren't so sure about the hopper feeder. They would sit on the end of the honeysuckle branches looking at it like they thought it was a trap.

A few brave House Finches gave it a try. Now, finally, I have several birds at one time on it.

Of course the squirrel has managed to find a way to get seeds out of the platform feeder. He stickes his nose as far as he can through the grate and then uses his tongue to get one seed at a time.

The hopper has done it's job so far. The squirrel hasn't found a way to get seed out of it. Yesterday a squirrel must have jumped on it. I looked out the window and saw my feeder hanging all catawampus on the pole. The squirrel had managed to knock it off it's attachment, pulled to screws right out of it. I put a few bigger, more industrial strengh screws it. Hopefully those will hold.

The Downey Woodpeckers are still around. In fact I saw a male on a telephone pole this morning. Took some pictures but they all suck. First time I've seen the male this year. Usually when I've seen one (this year) it's been the female. I think this is the longest they've ever stayed around.

Attached photo of birds finally using my feeder. LOL

The photo isn't that great, as it was taken through the window.

Del Rey Lagoon, Ballona Channel & Playa Del Rey Beach report for March 30, 2008

2008-04-03T15:32:00Z

Back out to the duck pond in hopes of getting a better picture of the Red Knot. Also wanted to try and find the elusive White-winged Scoter. Plus there were reports of terns resting on the beach, and Snowy Plovers on the sand.

In was another windy day at the beach. It wasn't to bad at the pond which is protected from the wind by a bunch of apartment buildings. Out on the jetties and the beach was a whole other thing.

I got lucky at the lagoon. The Red Knot was foraging much closer to the edge of the pond. I was able to get some good pictures of it. A few Black-bellied Plovers remain. Only one in near full breeding plumage, the others haven't molted yet. Two molting Dunlins were hanging out with the Red Knot.

No such luck on the White-winged Scoter. I guess I'm destined not to find this bird.

I did find a whole bunch of Elegant Terns hanging out on the sand with a bunch of gulls. As I approached they all took to the air. I got some really good flight shots of the terns.

Again no luck on the Snowy Plovers. All I got for me efforts were shoes covered in beach tar. YUCK! I think I was looking for the Snowy's in the wrong area of the beach.

The list...

American Coot, Willet, House Sparrow, Western Gull, Marbled Godwit, Snowy Egret, Red Knot, Black-bellied Plover, Western Sandpipers, Dunlins, European Starlings, Grey Lag Geese, Brown Pelicans, American Crow, Great Egret, Ring-billed Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull (juv), Surf Scoters, Western Grebe, Whimbel, Long-tailed Duck, Caspian Tern (heard), Elegant Terns, Sanderlings, Brewer's Blackbirds, Short-billed Dowitcher.

Attached photo of Elegant Tern in flight.

The good Red Knot photo will be in my gallery.

Del Rey Lagoon/Ballona Channel report for March 28, 2008

2008-03-29T17:12:00Z

Headed out to the lagoon and channel in hopes of seeing a breeding plumage Common Loon that had been reported the morning before. Also a Red Knot was reported at the lagoon the previous day.

On my way I stopped to look for the Burrowing Owl again. Came up empty again. I guess it's moved on. Oh well...

As I was pulling up to park at the lagoon, I ran into a fellow birder just as she was leaving. She told me the loon wasn't found again this morning, but the Red Knot was currently out on the mud flat. She also told me the female White-winged Scoter was out in the surf not to far from shore. Hummm, maybe I could tick off two life birds.

Bummer on the loon. Of course I've seen a Common Loon before but only in winter plumage. I would have dearly loved to have seen one in breeding plumage.

Well no luck on the White-winged Scoter. I'm beginning to think this one is never going to happen.

I did find the Red Knot. Yippee!

The Three Amigos were at the lagoon today. The Three Amigos are a Canada Goose, a Greater White-fronted Goose and a Cackling Goose who travel in company. They've been hanging out in the Ballona area since January. They are always seen together.

The list....

American Coot, Snowy Egret, Song Sparrow, Marbled Godwit, Willet, Short-billed Dowitcher, Black-bellied Plover (in breeding plumage), Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Mallards, Ring-billed Gull, Grey Lag Geese, Great Egret, Red-breasted Merganser, American Crow, Rock Dove, Mourning Dove, European Starling, Western Sandpiper, Red Knot, House Sparrow, House Finch, White-crowned Sparrow, Allen's Hummingbird, Double-crested Cormorant, Black Oystercatcher, Caspian Tern (heard), Surf Scoters, Western Grebe, Western Gull, Horned Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Brown Pelican, Least Sandpiper, Sanderlings, Surfbirds, Eared Grebe, Ruddy Turnstone, Northern Mockingbird, Forsters Tern.

Attached photo of the Red Knot. Not the greatest photo. The bird was some distance away out in the center of the mudflat.